One week after M-1 Global kicked off its “M-1 Selection: Americas” tournament, the organization returns home to Russia for the start of the 40-man “Eastern Europe” bracket.

And while the “Americas” edition focused on rising talent in the the Northeastern section of the U.S., the “Eastern Europe” bracket sees 22 fighters bring a combined MMA record of 142-26-1 (as well a trunk full of national and world championships in a variety of martial arts) to the Crocus Expo Universal Sports Arena in Moscow.

The entire event will stream free on MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Saturday, April 10, at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT.

The “M-1 Selection” tournament was originally conceived as a competition to find the best Russian fighters to represent Russia in the “M-1 Challenge” events. The success of the “M-1 Selection” in Russia led to its worldwide expansion in 2010.

In 2010, “M-1 Selection” events will take place in the Americas, Eastern Europe (expanded from its originally announced confinement to Russia), Western Europe and Asia. Forty fighters will begin the “M-1 Selection” process on each continent in a single-elimination tournament. The winners in each of the five weight classes (heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight) will represent their continent in the “M-1 Challenge.”

Undefeated Red Devil fighter Radik Iboyan (5-0), a former sambo champion in his native Bashkortostan, faces three-time world combat sambo champion Shamil Zavurov (12-1). In addition to his world sambo titles, Zavurov is also a former san shou champion in his native Dagestan.

In the evening’s third quarterfinal bout, undefeated former European pankration champion and former Ukranian san shou champion Vladimir Opanasenko (3-0) meets the tournament’s most experienced competitor, Arsen Temirkhanov (16-1). Temerkhanov is a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has won a Russian title in the art. The 33-year-old is also a two-time European combat sambo champion and a two-time Russian Army hand-to-hand combat champion.

Rounding out the eight-man field is the 2009 “M-1 Selection” champion Rashid Magomedov (14-0) and 25-year-old RusFighters Sport Club product Magomedrasul Khasbulaev (12-2).

“M-1 Selection: Eastern Europe” heavyweight grand prix

Saturday’s “M-1 Selection: Eastern Europe” event will also see the completion of the heavyweight tournament’s first round with four quarterfinal matchups.

In addition to the eight tournament bouts, “M-1 Selection: Eastern Europe” will also see four reserve bouts contested in three different weight classes.
The reserve fight winners are eligible to step into the tournament if a victorious fighter in the bracket is unable to continue on due to injury.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.